Question

How can hydrogen gas be produced via the use of solar energy? How might hydrogen be collected and stored to meet the need for fuel for transportation in the future?

Short answer

Hydrogen gas can be produced via solar energy using photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The hydrogen gas produced is collected and can be stored either by compressing it in a tank or absorbing it in solid materials. In the future, this hydrogen can be used as fuel for transportation, where it is used in fuel cells to generate electricity for powering vehicles, leaving water as the only by-product.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Hydrogen Production via Solar Energy

The process of producing hydrogen gas through solar energy involves a method known as photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. When solar energy is used to directly dissociate water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, we get Hydrogen gas as a product.

Describe the PEC Process

In the PEC process, solar cells are submerged in water, and when sunlight hits these solar cells, it energizes the water molecules. As a result, the water molecules dissociate into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen gas thus produced can be captured and stored.

Understand Hydrogen Storage

The hydrogen produced in the PEC process could be stored in a few ways. It could be compressed and stored in a tank or it could be stored in solid materials which could absorb the hydrogen molecules. There are ongoing researches for more efficient methods to store hydrogen.

Use as a Transportation Fuel

For the future use of Hydrogen as a transportation fuel, it can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity which can power vehicles with zero emissions. The only by-product is water from the chemical reaction in the fuel cells.